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Freshet in the Potomac

--The Bridge at Harper's Ferry Swept Away — Loss of Life --The Baltimore correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, under date of the 23d inst., says:

‘ I learn that the recent rains have caused an unusual rise and freshet in the Potomac river. The passengers and trains that left here yesterday, after reaching Harper's Ferry, were obliged to return, in consequence of two or three spans of the temporary bridge, recently constructed there, having been swept away.

It is said, seeing the water about to rise to an unusual height, several cars filled with coal had been piled upon the bridge, in order to press it more firmly against the abutments, so as to resist the pressure of the water. The bridge, however, with the cars upon it, and three men, were all swept off together, and the men drowned. The damage will be repaired in a day or two, and the trains will then run as usual. Other damage has been done by this freshet, doubtless, to a considerable extent elsewhere. Streams everywhere in the country are much swollen.

’

The Daily Dispatch: April 30, 1862. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. April 30, 1862. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

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